Richmond has 8th warmest May and warmest Spring on record

Richmond has 8th warmest May and warmest Spring on record

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – Preliminary climate data for the month of May at Richmond International Airport shows an average temperature of 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which puts it in the top ten hottest Mays on record. This average temperature departs from the “normal” by 4.1 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the climate records at the National Weather Service in Wakefield, here’s the new list of the Top Ten Warmest Mays:

1896 – 74.6 degrees F

2004 – 73.0 degrees F

1887 – 72.7 degrees F

1991 – 72.1 degrees F

1944 – 71.6 degrees F

1953 – 71.5 degrees F

1962 – 70.6 degrees F

2012 – 70.5 degrees F

1982 – 70.4 degrees F

1918 – 70.3 degrees F

As for Spring overall (March, April, and May), preliminary data indicates this year is the hottest on record for Richmond with a three-month average temperature of 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit. (March 2012 average temp: 58.3 degrees F; April 2012 average temp: 58.5 degrees F; May 2012 average temp: 70.5 degrees F). According to the climate records at the National Weather Service in Wakefield, here’s the new list of the Top Ten Warmest Springs:

2012 – 62.4 degrees F

2010 – 61.4 degrees F

1945 – 61.3 degrees F

1991 – 61.0 degrees F

1977 – 60.99 degrees F

2004 – 60.7 degrees F

1921 – 60.3 degrees F

1903 – 60.0 degrees F

1985 – 59.9 degrees F

2011 – 59.8 degrees F

This also means 2012 year-to-date is one of our warmest, after the fourth warmest Winter and now the warmest Spring in 132 years of record-keeping in Richmond (since 1880).

CLICK HERE for more CBS 6 coverage of this year’s trend of record warmth.